What is the difference between @PathParam and @PathVariable

@PathParam is a parameter annotation which allows you to map variable URI path fragments into your method call.

@PathVariable is to obtain some placeholder from the URI (Spring call it an URI Template)

QueryParam:

To assign URI parameter values to method arguments. In Spring, it is @RequestParam.

Eg.,

http://localhost:8080/books?isbn=1234

@GetMapping("/books/")
    public Book getBookDetails(@RequestParam("isbn") String isbn) {

PathParam:

To assign URI placeholder values to method arguments. In Spring, it is @PathVariable.

Eg.,

http://localhost:8080/books/1234

@GetMapping("/books/{isbn}")
    public Book getBook(@PathVariable("isbn") String isbn) {

@PathParam is a parameter annotation which allows you to map variable URI path fragments into your method call.

@Path("/library")
public class Library {

   @GET
   @Path("/book/{isbn}")
   public String getBook(@PathParam("isbn") String id) {
      // search my database and get a string representation and return it
   }
}

for more details : JBoss DOCS

In Spring MVC you can use the @PathVariable annotation on a method argument to bind it to the value of a URI template variable for more details : SPRING DOCS

@PathVariable and @PathParam both are used for accessing parameters from URI Template

Differences:

• As you mention @PathVariable is from spring and @PathParam is from JAX-RS.
• @PathParam can use with REST only, where @PathVariable used in Spring so it works in MVC and REST.